Audition Songs for Chaplin – By Character
When considering audition songs for Chaplin, it’s fitting to choose a timeless song from musical theatre repertoire that aligns with the tone of the show and suits your vocal type. Always refer to the audition notice for specific guidelines.
Because Chaplin premiered in 2006, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals between the 1980s and 2010s. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed by a musical theatre professional to ensure fit and audition readiness.
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Step 1: Review Audition Info
Please read your audition details carefully, as they sometimes specify the type of song they’d like to hear (a ballad, something uptempo, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call.
Step 2: Study the Show
Before auditioning, you should get familiar with the show, and listening to the cast album is a great way to do that. Here’s where you can learn more about Chaplin.
Step 3: Pick an Audition Song
Based on your personality and vocal type, decide whether you’d like to audition for the ensemble or a specific character. Just know that if you audition for a specific character, you still might not be chosen for that particular role.
Be sure to indicate that you’re open to the ensemble or other roles. You’ll gain valuable experience no matter where you’re placed. And remember, even if you audition for the ensemble, you could still be cast in a leading or supporting role.
To summarize, keep an open mind and have fun with this! And when you’re ready, choose the song that you feel most comfortable with from the list below.
The Audition Songs
Charlie Chaplin
“A Place to Come Back to” – The Wind in the Willows
“Foolish to Think” – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
“How I Am” – Little Women
“Never the Luck” – The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Hannah Chaplin
“Another Winter in a Summer Town” – Grey Gardens
“Anytime I Am There” – Elegies: A Song Cycle
“Being Mrs. Banks” – Mary Poppins
“Sylvia’s Lullaby” – Finding Neverland
Hedda Hopper
“An Old-Fashioned Love Story” – The Wild Party
“Jazz Time” – Marguerite
“Only in New York” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
“The Life of the Party” – The Wild Party
Mack Sennett
“Buddy’s Blues” – Follies
“Museum Song” – Barnum
“There Is a Sucker Born Ev’ry Minute” – Barnum
“Together Again” – Young Frankenstein
Oona O’Neill
“Already Home” – The Wizard of Oz
“I Still Believe” – Amazing Grace
“Love Never Dies” – Love Never Dies
“No One Cared Like You” – Nunsense II
Young Charlie
“Almost Nearly Perfect” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
“Expressing Yourself” – Billy Elliot
“Picture Show” – Bonnie & Clyde [Young Clyde’s part]
“When I Get My Name in Lights” – The Boy From Oz
Ensemble (Altos)
“Beautiful Things” – Doctor Dolittle
“I Don’t Need a Roof” – Big Fish
“My House” – Matilda
Ensemble (Baritones)
“I Am My Own Invention” – Wonderland
“I Cannot Hear the City” – Sweet Smell of Success
“Trip a Little Light Fantastic” – Mary Poppins Returns [2010s film]
Ensemble (Basses)
“Coffee Shop Nights” – Curtains
“Everybody Loves the Windmill” – Mrs Henderson Presents
“Welcome to the World” – A Man of No Importance
Ensemble (Contras)
“Every Tear a Mother Cries” – Honk!
“My Body Wasn’t Why” – The Glorious Ones
“The Place Where Lost Things Go” – Mary Poppins Returns [film]
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos/Sopranos)
“Fabulous Places” – Doctor Dolittle
“Just Beyond the Stars” – Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure
“Where Is the Rainbow?” – Nunset Boulevard
Ensemble (Tenors)
“A Bit of Earth” – The Secret Garden
“Drift Away” – Grey Gardens
“Larger Than Life” – My Favorite Year
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Chaplin:
• “Actor!” in Audition Monologues for Young Men➝
• “I Don’t Want to Be an Actress➝” from Snakebit (Jenifer)
• “Rooms” in Fantasy Monologues for Young Actors➝
• “Where Is He?➝” from The Father Clock➝ (Flub)
• “You’ve Got to Come Back a Star➝” from 42nd Street (Julian)
Final Step: Audition Prep
Once you’ve chosen your song, it’s time to start preparing! Grab your FREE Audition Prep Checklist and Stamp Cards to stay organized and motivated for your upcoming auditions!
Chaplin Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Chaplin, along with which characters sing in each of them. Unless you have been asked to, do not choose from the below songs for your audition! The following is more intended to be used for character research purposes.
* That said, if you’ve specifically been asked to sing a song from the show, you can find the sheet music for the best possible audition songs below.
Act 1:
“Look At All the People” – Hannah
“What’cha Gonna Do?” – Hannah, Young Charlie, Ensemble
“If I Left London” – Charlie
“Sennett Song” – Sennett
“Look At All the People (Reprise)” – Hannah, Charlie
“Tramp Shuffle – Part 1” – Sennett, Charlie, Usher
“Tramp Shuffle – Part 2” – Sennett, Charlie, Usher, Ensemble
“Life Can Be Like the Movies” – Charlie, Sydney, Mildred, Ensemble
“The Look-a-Like Contest” – Ensemble
Act 2:
“Just Another Day in Hollywood” – Charlie, Hedda, Ensemble
“The Life That You Wished For” – Charlie
“All Falls Down” – Hedda
“Man of All Countries” – Charlie, Hedda, McGranery
“What Only Love Can See” – Oona
“The Exile” – Hedda, Ensemble
“Where Are All the People?” – Charlie
“What Only Love Can See (Reprise)” – Charlie, Oona
“This Man” – Oona, Sydney, Hannah, Mildred, Alf, Ensemble
“Finale” / “Tramp Reprise” – Company
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip and the author of The Thespian’s Bucket List. She is also the creator of The Cast Album List. Her background includes a BA in Theatre, a TESOL Drama certificate, and professional experience in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
